The release of GTA Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS is a defining moment for video games, writes Seth Schiesel of the New York Times.

While video games have been incorporating more mature themes for at least a decade, the NYT's game critic views the arrival of Grand Theft Auto on the generally kid-centric handheld as a definitive statement that the medium is no longer for children only.

What makes [GTA Chinatown Wars] so significant is the system it has been made for, Nintendo’s hand-held DS... [so far] the DS has found its most fervent customers among children.

Yet like “Scarface,” “Goodfellas” and other gangster movies, Chinatown Wars is definitely not for children. Recent Grand Theft Auto games go quite a bit further in their references to hedonism (some might call it depravity) than almost anything coming out of Hollywood...

With Rockstar making Chinatown Wars exclusively for the DS, and with Nintendo approving the game for its system, the two companies are making a bold and vital statement to the public. Chinatown Wars is likely to force many to realize that just because something is called a video game does not mean it is appropriate for children...

This is a crucial moment in the maturation of both the game industry and in the mass public conception of what a game is and can be. In just the last few years games have gone from the whipping boy of politicians to a somewhat grudgingly accepted element of popular culture. But there is still a long way to go...

"Recent Grand Theft Auto games go quite a bit further in their references to hedonism (some might call it depravity) than almost anything coming out of Hollywood... "

I find this quote pretty interesting. I can't really think of something in a GTA game that hasn't been in multiple movies. The idea that they go further than 'almost anything' coming out of Hollywood is fairly ridiculous. Hell, recently I've been rewatching the Friday the 13th series and in just those movies the murders are far more brutal than anything in a GTA game (spear gun through the eye, multiple machete impalings, choked out with a length of barbed wire, axes through the skull, etc.) not to mention the multiple sex scenes and 'horrendous' bare breasts.

And I think it's safe to say that Friday the 13th is not anywhere near the pinnacle of sex and violence in movies.

Yessssssssssssssss video games are not just for kids. Yes there have been adult games as far as video games have been invented. Is it just dawning on these people now that this medium happens to not be just for kids?!

I would have said that the defining moment was around '94 to '96 when we had video games with a budget of several millions of dollars to make said game (rivaling then movie production budgets). Sometimes hiring A-list and B-list movie actors to do video and/or voice work. Some games then even had....gasp....actual nudity and have mature language (see Phantasmagoria and Ripper [with Christopher Walken! :P] ).

We have come a long ways since the days of Pitfall and Super Mario Brothers.

The first Mortal Kombat on SNES was censored, but the second one was uncensored (with a label on the box with a warning). Most of the game on SNES was censored actually. But because of the ESRB and the first amendment. Nintendo can now have M-rated game. Sadly, if the Wii had a graphic of the 360 and PS3. Nintendo can have Fallout 3, Bioshock, F.E.A.R. series, Resident Evil 5, Call of Duty 4 (even though the DS was ok). That would make Nintendo more hardcore then kiddie (even though, the 360 and PS3 has share of family-friendly games too)

While I do think it is a brave move by both Nintendo and Take-Two, many people forget that Nintendo have allowed many other MATURE rated games on their consoles and handhelds.

Anyone remember Conker's Bad Fur Day?

While you will keep the parents and family happy with Wii Sports and Wii Fit. The same group will always critisize you with anything associated with GTA and any of Rockstar's other games.

While great games like Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong and even Pokemon don't even get the mainstreem attention they honestly deserve and only those games get the true recognition they deserve for the gamers who have grown up with those classic Nintendo games.

You know what I miss? Last generation. When an M rated game hit Gamecube or GBA, nothing about it was mentioned. It was simply an M-Rated game. Now if an M-Rated game hits Wii or DS, it's some grand line being drawn in the sand to show games are for everyone... pathetic.

Shout box

Infophile: @Matt: Apparently Dan Aykroyd actually is involved. We don't know how yet, though, but he's apparently going to be in the movie in some way.08/02/2015 - 4:17am

Mattsworkname: I still hold that not having the origonal cast invovled in any way hurts this movie, and unless the 4 actresses in the lead roles can some how measure up to the comic timing of the origonal cast, i just don't see it being a success08/02/2015 - 12:46am

Mattsworkname: Mecha: regardless of what you think of it, GB 2 was a finanical success and for it time did well with audiances ,even if it wasnt as popular as the first08/02/2015 - 12:45am

MechaTama31: I think they're better off trying to do something different, than trying to be exactly the same and having every little difference held up as a shortcoming. Uncanny valley.08/01/2015 - 11:57pm

MechaTama31: Having the original cast didn't do much for... that pink-slimed atrocity which we must never speak of.08/01/2015 - 11:56pm

Mattsworkname: Andrew: If the new ghostbusters bombs, I cant help but feel it'll be cause it removed the origonal cast and changed the formula to much08/01/2015 - 8:31pm

Andrew Eisen: Not the best look but that appears to be a PKE meter hanging from McCarthy's belt.08/01/2015 - 7:34pm

Mattsworkname: You know what game is a lot of fun? rocket league. It' s a soccer game thats actually fun to play cause your A Freaking CAR!08/01/2015 - 7:02pm

Mattsworkname: Nomad colossus did a little video about it, showing the world and what can be explored in it's current form. It's worth a look, and he uses text for commentary as not to break the immerison08/01/2015 - 5:49pm

Mattsworkname: I feel some more mobility would have made it more interesting and I feel that a larger more diverse landscape with better graphiscs would help, but as a concept, it interests me08/01/2015 - 5:48pm

Andrew Eisen: Huh. I guess I'll have to check out a Let's Play to get a sense of the game.08/01/2015 - 5:47pm

Mattsworkname: It did, I found the idea of exploring a world at it's end, exploring the abandoned city of a disappeared alien race and the planets various knooks and crannies intriqued me.08/01/2015 - 5:46pm

Andrew Eisen: Did it appeal to you? If so, what did you find appealing?08/01/2015 - 5:43pm

Mattsworkname: Its an interesting concept, but it's not gonna appeal to everyone thats for sure,08/01/2015 - 5:40pm

Andrew Eisen: That sounds horrifically boring. Doesn't sound like an interesting use of its time dilation premise either. 08/01/2015 - 5:36pm

Mattsworkname: an observer , seeing this sorta frozen world and being able to explore without any restriction other then time. no enimes, no threats, just the chance to explore08/01/2015 - 5:34pm